Run a small food business with fewer surprises
Licences, food safety, equipment and planning notes for food trucks, home bakers, pop-ups, market stalls and small cafés.
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Hiring Your First Employee
Taking on your first team member changes your legal duties overnight. Work through these steps so…
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Cottage Food Laws Explained
Home baking rules are written state by state. See how two large states handle approved foods,…
Latest articles
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Home Kitchen Food Safety: Myths and Facts
Washing raw chicken, cooling food on the counter, tasting raw dough. Some kitchen habits feel safe but are not. Here is what public health guidance says.

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Turning a Cooking Hobby Into a Business
Friends keep asking you to sell your pies. Follow one hypothetical cook through the questions that decide whether a kitchen hobby should become a business.

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Selling Baked Goods Online: A Buyer’s Guide to Your Options
Before you pick a platform for your cakes and cookies, check what your state or council allows online, then compare the main sales channels on fit…

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Standing Work Ergonomics: A Checklist
Long shifts on your feet behind a counter or stall take a toll. Use this checklist to adjust heights, floors, shoes and routines before aches set…

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Food Labeling for Home Bakers: A Checklist
Your cookie bag label carries legal weight. Use this checklist to make sure each one shows what your state or council requires before the first sale.

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Market Stall Setup: A Buyer’s Guide to Equipment
Before you spend on a canopy or cooler, know what inspectors expect at a food stall and how to judge each piece of kit for weight,…

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Allergen Management for Small Food Businesses
A customer asks whether a dish is safe for their allergy. This checklist helps make sure your answer is accurate every time, from recipe records to…

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Food Business Insurance Types Compared
Which policies does a small food business actually need? Compare what each common type covers, who tends to need it and what the law requires for…

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Food Truck Permits and Locations: A Checklist
Before the first service, your truck needs paperwork from several offices and permission for every spot you park. Tick through these items in order.

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Reducing Food Waste in a Small Food Business
Most kitchen waste is preventable with a few habits: measure it, order to sales, use older stock first, then donate or compost what is left before…

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The Board Game Café Model: A Walkthrough
Games keep guests at the table for hours, which changes how a café earns. Follow one hypothetical project from first idea to a workable plan for…

